Improvement in revolving fire-arms



;L. C. RODIER.

' Revolver.

Patented'- July r1, 1865.V

A/ l jizz/leibl- O y1,1/ QM N. PETERS. PHDTO'LITHOGRAPHER ASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OrmeaQ LOUIS C. RODIER, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T() SAM- UEL NORRIS, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPRGVENIENT IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS.

Specitication forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,775, dated July 11, 1865.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUrs C. Roman, of lpringeld, in the county of Hampden and State 0f Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Arms 5 f 1d I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, rf ference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichigure 1 is a vertical section of a pistol con strueted in accordance with my invention, the pla ne ofsection passing through the center or axis ofthe barrel, and showing in elevation the trigger, hammer, and the other parts of the mechanism for operating` the cylinder. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pistol in position when the cartridges or exploded cartridgecases are being withdrawn from the cylinder. Fig. 3 is an end view of the cylinder, looking toward the barrel; and Fig. el is a detail view ofthe spring lever or catch for holding the cylinder in place.

My invention relates to that class of lirearms in which a many-chambered cylinder is arranged for repeating action. Most oi' those heretofore constructed involve the revolving principle-5. c., the combination, with the lock and its appurtenances, of a mechanism which actuates the cylinder to move continuously in one direction the distance of one chamber at every cooking of the arm. rlhis has been found to be a source of deception as to the condition of the arm, and often of danger, because the cylinder will continue to revolve and the parts with which it is combined to operate as though all the chambers are loaded, when, in fact, all or some of the charges may have been fired, and thus the arm may fail when greatest reliance is placed u-pon it. It has also been found dangerous to ascertain the condition of such tire-arms, inasmuch as the arm for that purposeis necessarily held pointed toward the face of the party inspecting it, and many accidents are recorded from this cause.

To obviate these objections the iirst part of my invention consists, tirst, in the arrangement of a repeating tire-arm having a manychambered cylinder hung upon a central axis in such manner that the said cylinder shall revolve or oscillate between two given pointst'. c., between the irst and last chamber; second, in combining with an open frame provided with a projecting stud a cylinder movable upon it axis, and grooved between two points of its circumference, so as to allow of its revolution or oscillation, ashereinafter set forth, or, vice versa, in combining with an open frame a cylinder movable upon its axis, provided at two points of its circumference with one or two proljecting studs, substantially as hereinafter described.

The second part of my invention relates to the withdrawal ot' cartridges or the metallic shells of tired cartridges, and consists, first, in providing the retractor on the end ofthe sliding'pin, when located in the rear of the cylinder, with ratchet-teeth, in combination with a pawl actuated by the lock to operate the sliding pin, together withthe cylinder, as hereinaf ter described g second, in holding the cylinder arm by means of a hollow axle upon the one t end of the cylinder, in combination with a ecntral socket at the other end thereof, and wrou ght into the retractor, together with a short movable pin iitting into the said socket, substantialy as hereinafter set forth; third, in conibiningwith a cylinder held in the frame as set forth a spring-lever bearing the movable cyl inder-holding pin under such an arrangen'ient that it may be operated from without, for the purpose of releasing the cylinder and enabling it to be disconnected from the hilt or stoel; of the arm; fourth, in combining with a cylinder held in its frame, as hereinafter described, the method of mounting the frame carrying the barrel and cylinder upon an axle, so as to allow ot' the disconnecting of the cylinder' and barrel from the lock and stock by shifting the same sidewise, as hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention` I shall now proceed to describe the construction and operation of the same, omitting in the description particular reference to such parts or arrangements of parts which this improved tire-arm has or may have in common with other lire-arms.

The frame A, which may be made in one piece with the barrel, is open at the sides and in the rear. The upper part or brace, D, tcrniinates in its rear in a transverse groove, a, curved on a circle of which the bolt B is the center. This groove iits over a iiange, l), cor

and sliding pin within the open frame of the' respondingly formed, and projecting on top of the guard-plate C. The groove a. is closed at the side r1. of the brace D, so as to limit the motion of the frame when brought home. The lower part of the frame is formed into a. sleeve, E, through which passes the bolt B, fast in the stock, and around which bolt B the sleeve, together with the frame and the parts connected therewith, is capable of an oscillating motion. The'attachment of the frarne to the bolt is effected by means of a screw, e, and an intermediate \vasher,f, indented upon its circumference, so as to allow of a quarterrevolution of the frame around its pivot or bolt B. The vertical front brace of the frame is perforated in line of the axis ofthe breech G, and contains its hollow axle g. lhe cylinder contains a series of equidistant chambers, h, arranged concentricall y in relation to the axis of suspension. rlhese chambers maybe extended throughout the length ofthe cylinder, or they may he provided with nipples. The arrangement shown in the accom pa nyin gdrawings is thatofacylinderprovided with throughchambers, and contrived for use in connection with metallic flanged cartridges inserted at the rear. I would, however, remark that although my invention is more particularly applicable to cartridges last referred to, it may be used with advantage in connection with cartridges of a different construction-for instance, such as are provided with flanges at the frontend of the cylinder. In the center of the cylinder is fitted, passing through a hole oflike sectional area, a square spindle or pin, i, provided at one end with a knob, j, and at the other end with a skeleton-frame, 7c, or plate indented upon its circumference in conformity with the chambers, in such manner that when the plate or skeletoirframe is in its place its edges will form continuations of the chambers. The frame, which is called the retractor, does not extend around the chambers, but simply to one-half (or less) of the radius of the cylinder. The skeleton -plate or retractor 7c is recessed in the center, -at fm, into which recess fits a stud or pin, n, projecting through the guard-plate C. In this Way'the cylinder revolves on two pivots-i. e.,on one in the front and on another in the rear. The face of the skeleton-plate is provided with ratchetteeth o, which, in conjunction with the pawl 1J, effectthe movement ot' the cylinder. The cylinder is recessed or countersunk on the face opposite' the skeleton-plate, so that when the said plate is brought home its exterior surface is Hush with the face of the cylinder, allowing the ratchet-teeth only to project therefrom. A groove or channel, g, is eut in the cylindrical surface of the cylinder between the points s and t-that is to say, between the two points determining the positions of the cylinder when its first and last chamber are presented to the barrel-and a pin or stud, r, projects from below the brace' D to enter the groove, so that the cylinder, instead of continuously revolving around its axis when operated, will rotate or oscillate between the two said points-that is, stop after the last chamber shall have been discharged, for the purpose of bein gloaded,ai 1d reset in position for chamber No. l. To d1sengage the cylinder from its hold in the rear the pin n is made removable. For this purpose it is attached to or makes part of the, lever L, projecting on top above the guard-plate and immediately in rear of the brace. This lever, the rear elevation of which is shown in Fig. 4, is pivo ted at w, and actuated by aspring, x, whose tendency is to close it against the cylinder.

From the forcgoin g description of the parts the operation of the arm will be understood t0 be as follows:

'First,theloading. lliellammer,whendown, bearing with great pressure upon the lever L keeps it locked. It is therefore necessary, first, to place the hammer at half-cock, as shown in Fig. l, in order to release the lever and enable its being operated. The lever is then pushed back with the thumb, which causes the withdrawal of the pin or stud n from within the socket in the skeleton-plate. The frame, including the cylinder and barrcl,is then turned a quarterrevolution upon the bolt B as center, exposing the chambers and presenting them open at the side, as shown in Fig. 2. The metallic flanged cartridges are now inserted and the frame is reset by maintaining pressure on the lever, so that the breech of the cylinder may clear the projecting stud. The arm is now loaded and ready to be tired.

Second, the lirin g. The cylinder is set with the first chamber opposite the barrel-that is, with the groove rl so placed that the closed end thereof shall be on the right-hand side of the stud r. At every cooking of the pistol the movement of the hammer is transmitted to the pawl, which, meshing in with the ratchet-teeth of the skeleton-plate, causes the breech to be shifted the distance of one chamber, so that by the time the cooking of the arm shall have been effected a new loaded chamber is presented to the barrel. I would here state that the rotation or oscillation of the cylinder is effected one way automatically-that is, by means of the mechanism of the lockand the other way by means ot' the hand. The automatic part of the movement is in this arm arranged to take place from the left to the right; hence the manner of adjusting the cylinder with the closed portionof the groove on the right side ot' the stud. When all the cartridges are exploded the closed side of the groove comes in contact with the stud on the left side thereof, and thus prevents the further motion of the cylinder by the mechanism of the lock. By this arrangement notice is given when the last charge is ired, and the danger of exploding missed cartridges is removed.

Third, the withdrawalljof the shells of exi ploded cartrid In order to reload the cylinder the hammer is placed at half-cock again,

and the cylinder is placed in position, as indicated in Fig. 2. rlhen by pushing the pint' the cartridges are all simultaneouslywithdrawn from their chambers by the skeleton-plate hugging the cartridge-case above the ianges. In

, Fig. 2 the sliding pin. is shown in the act of `stud in the brace, as shown, the stud in the brace may be dispensed with, and the breech may be provided with two studs, determining the points between which the cylinder is to oscillate, or one stud may be used, extending4 between the two points, which stud abuts against the-brace, and thus limits its oscillation. The sliding pin may be provided with a spring, the tendency of which is to hold the skeleton-plate in its recessed seat in the cylinder, and other minor alterations or improvements may be adopted.

Having thus described my invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be ca rried into eiect, I claim- 1. The arrangement of a repeating fire-arm,

having a many-chambered cylinder hung upon a central axis in such manner that the said cylinder shall revolve or oscillate between two given points-Ji. e., between the first and last chamber-stilistantially as set forth.

2. Combining with an open frame provided with a projecting stud a cylinder movable upon its axis and grooved between two points of its circumference, so as to allow of its revolution or oscillation, as herein set forth.

3. Providing the skeleton-frame, plate, or retractor on the end of the sliding pin, when located in the rear of the cylinder, with ratchetteeth, in combination with a pawl actuated by the lock to operate the sliding pin, together with the cylinder, as herein described.

4. Holding the cylinder and sliding pin within the open frame ot' the arm by means of a hollow axle upon one end of the cylinder, in combination with a central socket at the other end thereof, and wrought into the skeletonframe of the sliding pin, together with a short movable pin fitting into the said socket, substantially as herein set forth.

5.v The combination, with a cylinder held in the frame, as set forth, of a spring-lever bearing the movable cylinder-holding pin under such an arrangement that the same may be operated from without, for the purpose of releasing the cylinder and enabling it to be disconnected from the hilt or stock of the arm.

6. Combining with a cylinder held in its frame, as hereinbefore described, the method of mountin the frame carrying the barrel and cylinder upon an axle, so as to allow of the disconnecting ot' the cylinder and barrel-from the lock and stock by shifting the same sidewise, as herein described.

' LOUIS C. RODIER.

Witnesses Jos. L. CooMBs, EDM. F. BROWN. 

